Thursday, May 5, 2011

I am coming to the realization that this year's half marathon has become way more than running 13.1 miles! So much has happened over the past few months and it has become a whirlwind of a life I lead!! We have gone from 4 Survivors and their loyal supporters and fans to 9 Survivors coming from two different countries!! We're getting corporate sponsors, doing fundraisers, like selling SJS bracelets and Stevie B's pizza buffet cards, I'm doing speeches and planning a pre-race dinner. It has been amazing thus far!

But I have to say that the simplicity of training for the half last year is something that I continually long for as the weeks get closer to race day. When I think back to last year, it was all about the excitement of running farther the following week than I did the previous week. It was about going to a place I had never gone before and the pride that came with that was staggering! The only thing I could control was whether or not I put my shoes on and whether or not I pushed through when I felt like quitting. I used my training runs to clear my mind and enjoy the solace of the moment. I had a much easier time remembering where I had been a year before and honestly, amazed myself at times. How far I had truly come!!

As exciting as this big adventure is this year and how wonderful that we are doing great things in the name of awareness, love and support, I have set a new goal for myself this year. My goal is to find a balance between last year and the ultimate goal of raising money for the Foundation and raising awareness of SJS. I don't want to lose myself in the process of all of this. I need to remember my favorite quote of all time! "I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become." - Carl Jung

So here's to another day of not getting lost, of taking the time for me to get my training in and to clearing my head!!! Here's to being a vehicle to allow the healing process for Survivors and family members!! Because ultimately that is the most important part of all of this. Raising awareness is great and definitely necessary, but moving forward is inevitable and doing it with grace and dignity is the best thing we can do for ourselves.

This is a blog about my life after Stevens Johnson Syndrome, a very devastating illness. I truly believe this is my purpose in life, to get the word out. This is my new life! I've trained for and completed my first half marathon and now plan to run it every year until I can no longer take another step! This is about my training, my goals, my triumphs and my failures! It really is true what they say, "life goes on!" Well, here I go!!